Box Score - South Alabama 3, Louisiana-Monroe 0 (.pdf)

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MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's volleyball team clinched a berth in this season's Sun Belt Conference tournament with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-16) win over Louisiana-Monroe Sunday afternoon at Jag Gym.  The trip to the conference tournament will be the program's first since the 2010 season and their 17th overall.

"I think this is the first time during the conference season that we controlled the match pretty much the whole time," South Alabama head coach Amy Hendrichovsky said.  "Towards the end of the third set, we made a little change to the lineup and lost a few points, but for the most part, we controlled the match the whole time.  Our team was able to be mature and come out with the same focus and same intensity after each break, so that was good to see."

USA (13-13, 8-8 SBC) will now close out the regular season next weekend with matches versus Sun Belt leader Western Kentucky (Nov. 15) and at Georgia State (Nov. 17).  First serve versus the Lady Toppers on Friday is set for 7 p.m. at E.A. Diddle Arena.

"Going into this season, it was a goal for us to make the conference tournament, but with the way we are playing right now, we've set higher goals," Hendrichovsky said.  "It's nice that we didn't barely get in or back our way in.  We actually won our way in and we're hoping for a decent seed.  It could be anybody's game once you get in the tournament.  We'll now focus on these next two matches and look to gain some momentum."  

With the win, South Alabama has now won six of its last seven matches and eight of its last 11, so the Jaguars will head into the final weekend of play with momentum.  The Jaguars are currently in a three-way tie with Louisiana-Lafayette and Texas-Arlington for the fourth in the conference.

Mechell Daniel posted her 12th double-double of the season with 10 kills and 12 digs.  Of her 12 double-doubles this season, 11 have come against league competition.  Jessica Lewis finished with seven kills on 17 attacks and committed just one attack error for a .3553 hitting percentage.  Mallory Moore added six kills of her own.

ULM (6-26, 2-14 SBC) was led by Hadley Schwartz's six kills.  Maria Garcia also had five for the Warhawks.

South Alabama ended the match with a .247 (35-13-89) attack percentage, while Louisiana-Monroe had a .000 (21-21-103).  The Jags also held a huge advantage at the net.  USA had 13 blocks – one solo and 12 assists, compared to just three – one solo and two assists by Louisiana-Monroe.

USA also held a 52-36 advantage in the dig category.  Abby Baker paced South Alabama with 15 digs.  ULM's Marcela Araya had 16.  

SET ONE: SOUTH ALABAMA 25, LOUISIANA-MONROE 14
Tied at 7-7 in the opening set, South Alabama began to pull away as the Jaguars pushed across four-straight points.  Moore and Baker began the scoring with a kill and an ace, respectively.  ULM then recorded back-to-back attack errors.  ULM struggled offensively in the first set as they committed 11 errors in the frame and hit -.167.

With USA leading 17-13, the Jags closed the set strong as they reeled off eight of the final nine points to take the set, 25-14.  The Warhawks committed four more attack errors during the run and Moore sealed the 11-point victory with a kill.  

SET TWO: SOUTH ALABAMA 25, LOUISIANA-MONROE 14
Midway through the second set, the Jaguars took a 10-7 lead on kills from Amber Wyatt and Moore.  The Warhawks came right back and trimmed the USA advantage to one two points later at 10-9, but Moore ended the threat with another kill.  Stephenson added a kill of her own on the next Jag point and then the freshman duo teamed up to turn back a ULM attack.

Leading 17-12 later in the set, the Jaguars put the match away as they rattled off a 7-1 run over the next eight points.  Lewis, who had four kills in the set, ignited the run with back-to-back kills.  Emily Hundt later capped off the scoring and put USA up 24-13 with an ace.  Lewis then sealed the 25-14 win with another kill.  Daniel also had five kills in the set for South Alabama in the set as the Jags hit .438 (17-3-32).

SET THREE: SOUTH ALABAMA 25, LOUISIANA-MONROE 16
Following the second point of the third set, South Alabama took control and didn't trail the rest of the way.  Leading by two at 8-6, USA broke the set open with a 9-1 run over the next 10 points to take a 17-7 lead.  Daniel began the run with one of her three kills in the set.  Stephenson also added a kill and a pair of block assists.  

USA later took its largest lead of the match at 14 (22-8) on another kill from Daniel.  ULM made a late charge, getting as close as eight down the stretch, but the Jaguar defense sealed the win and clinched the match as Lewis and Wyatt blocked a Warhawk attack to give South Alabama the 25-16 win.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

NOTES:  With the win, South Alabama moves to 8-6 in the all-time series versus ULM and 5-0 in the series in matches played in Mobile.  The win also clinched a berth in this year's Sun Belt Conference tournament, the program's first appearance since the 2010 season.  Freshman opposite/outside hitter Mechell Daniel posted her 12th double-double of the season with 10 kills and 12 digs versus Louisiana-Monroe.  Of her 12 double-doubles, 11 have come against Sun Belt competition.  With the win on Sunday, South Alabama has now won six of its last seven matches and eight of its last 11 heading into the final weekend of the regular season.  

—USA—